Plant Community Dynamics in the Northern Great Plains –Recognizing the Impacts of

Invasive Species

Jeff PrintzRangeland Mgt. Specialist

USDA-NRCSBismarck, ND

Stan BoltzRangeland Mgt. Specialist

USDA-NRCSHuron, SD

Dr. Kevin Sedivec, ND State Univ.

Dr. John Hendrickson, USDA-ARS

Dr. Mike Brand, ND State Land Dept.

Kelly Krabbenhoff, KDK Consulting

Bob Patten, ND State Univ.

Stan Boltz, NRCS (SD)

Chuck Stanley, NRCS (CNTSC)

Jody Forman, NRCS (ND)

Lee Voigt, NRCS (ND)

Dennis Froemke, NRCS (ND)

Dr. Jay Volk, BNI Coal

Dr. Shawn Dekeyser, ND State Univ.

Gary Petik, US Forest Service

Bernadette Braun, US Forest Service

Kim Dolatta, US Forest Service

Sheila McNee, US Forest Service

Kent Belland, ND National Guard

Pat Shaver, NRCS (WNTSC)

Jeff Printz, NRCS (ND)

Differing data collection protocols

Major Land Resource Areas

Average growing conditions:

16 to 21 inches precipitation

118 to 140 day frost free days

Loamy ecological site in MLRA 55B

USDA-NRCS Gary Kramer

1. Reference Plant Community

1.1

Green needlegrass/ western wheatgrass

1.2

Big bluestem/sideoats grama/western wheatgrass1.1a

1.2a

Feedback mechanisms:

Periodic grazing with varying levels of frequency and intensity

Periodic fires at varying times of the growing season

Climatic fluctuations

1. Reference Plant Community

1.1

Green needlegrass/ western wheatgrass

1.2

Big bluestem/sideoats grama/western wheatgrass1.1a

1.2a

Feedback mechanisms (post-settlement):

Altered grazing regime

No or very infrequent fires

Climatic fluctuations (impacts)

Introduction of non-native species(Smooth Brome, K. bluegrass, black medic, sweet clover)

T1a

Transition #1

Proposed threshold occurs when trace amounts of non-native species are present….examples would include Kentucky bluegrass, (Poa pratensis) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) .

1.1 Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass

1. Reference State

2.1 Green Needlegrass/

Western Wheatgrass/Kentucky Bluegrass

2.2Kentucky Bluegrass/Blue Grama/Sedge

2.3Kentucky Bluegrass/Western Wheatgrass/Green Needlegrass

2. Native / Invaded State

3.1Kentucky Bluegrass/

Smooth Brome3.2

Smooth Brome

3. Invaded Grass State

T1a

T2aR3a

3.1a

2.1a

2.1b 2.2b

2.2a

1.2Big Bluestem/

Sideoats Grama/Western Wheatgrass

1.1a

DRAFT Loamy Ecological Site (055BY011ND) DRAFT

1.2a

Extent of T1a:

42 Loamy sites inventoried 2003 to 2006 (NRI):

41 sites had some level of Kentucky bluegrass invasion

22 sites had some level of smooth bromegrass invasion

(Dr. Ken Spaeth)

1.1 Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass

1. Reference State

2.1 Green Needlegrass/

Western Wheatgrass/Kentucky Bluegrass

2.2Kentucky Bluegrass/Blue Grama/Sedge

2.3Kentucky Bluegrass/Western Wheatgrass/Green Needlegrass

2. Native / Invaded State

3.1Kentucky Bluegrass/

Smooth Brome3.2

Smooth Brome

3. Invaded Grass State

T1a

T2aR3a

3.1a

2.1a

2.1b 2.2b

2.2a

1.2Big Bluestem/

Sideoats Grama/Western Wheatgrass

1.1a

DRAFT Loamy Ecological Site (055BY011ND) DRAFT

1.2a

Note: no restoration pathway

Feedback mechanisms:

Grazing by domestic livestock

No fire

Climatic fluctuations

Transition T2a

Transition #2

Proposed threshold occurs when native grasses decline to < 40% of community and invasives (e.g. Kentucky bluegrass) increase to >30% of the plant community

1.1 Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass

1. Reference State

2.1 Green Needlegrass/

Western Wheatgrass/Kentucky Bluegrass

2.2Kentucky Bluegrass/Blue Grama/Sedge

2.3Kentucky Bluegrass/Western Wheatgrass/Green Needlegrass

2. Native / Invaded State

3.1Kentucky Bluegrass/

Smooth Brome3.2

Smooth Brome

3. Invaded Grass State

T1a

T2aR3a

3.1a

2.1a

2.1b 2.2b

2.2a

1.2Big Bluestem/

Sideoats Grama/Western Wheatgrass

1.1a

DRAFT Loamy Ecological Site (055BY011ND) DRAFT

1.2a

Extent of T2a:Of the 41 loamy sites from the NRI study with some level of Kentucky bluegrass invasion

63% would fit into State 2

22% “Transitional”

15 % would fit into State 3

(Dr. Ken Spaeth)

1.1 Green Needlegrass/Western Wheatgrass

1. Reference State

2.1 Green Needlegrass/

Western Wheatgrass/Kentucky Bluegrass

2.2Kentucky Bluegrass/Blue Grama/Sedge

2.3Kentucky Bluegrass/Western Wheatgrass/Green Needlegrass

2. Native / Invaded State

3.1Kentucky Bluegrass/

Smooth Brome3.2

Smooth Brome

3. Invaded Grass State

T1a

T2aR3a

3.1a

2.1a

2.1b 2.2b

2.2a

1.2Big Bluestem/

Sideoats Grama/Western Wheatgrass

1.1a

DRAFT Loamy Ecological Site (055BY011ND) DRAFT

1.2a

“Transitional”

38% Native grasses

30% Native forbs

32% Kentucky bluegrass(by weight)

Impacts and feedback mechanisms

Loss of plant diversity (grasses and forbs)

Litter to soil surface gap

State 3 – Invaded Grass State 2 – Native / Invaded Grass

01234567

SLL SLM SLH HISD1 HISD2 BTG

Inch

es/H

our

First InchSecond Inch

SLL- Kentucky bluegrass dominatedSLM- Kentucky bluegrass dominatedSLH - Kentucky bluegrass dominatedHISD1- Diverse native communityHISD2- Diverse native communityBTG- Brome Tame Grass Pasture

Grassland Grazing Systems Water Infiltration Rates Loamy Ecological Site (Williams Loam)

Single Ring Method (Inches/Hour)

Dr. Jimmy Richardson and Dr. Jay Volk

3. Invaded State

89% Introduced species (5 species)

11% Native grasses and forbs (6 species)

(by weight)

2. Native / Invaded State

88% Native grasses, forbs & shrubs (19 species)

12% Introduced species (3 species)

(by weight)

“Soil Modification by Invasive Plants: Effects on Native and

Invasive Species of Mixed-Grass Prairies”

by Nicholas Jordan, Diane Larson

and Sheri Huerd.

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, St. Paul, MN

“Overall, these results support the hypothesis

that invasive alterations of the soil biota can be highly

important to plant invasions, and moreover can impede restoration of native communities after removal of an invasive

species”

Thank You.